Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips More Valuable Than Bradley Chubb?
After a 1-6 start to the season, the Dolphins are expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
No position has a hotter market than edge rusher, and Miami has two that could be moved: Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. Teams are interested in both players, and a recent report suggests that the team is more likely to deal them than wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Eagles are thought to be pursuing an edge rusher, and both Phillips and Chubb spent time under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic.
Phillips is believed to have more value, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The 2021 first-rounder was an ascending player before season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024, and he appears to be back this season. He only has two sacks and two tackles for loss in seven games, but underlying metrics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) indicate a stronger performance. Phillips leads the Dolphins with 22 pressures and a 18.2% pass rush win rate. The latter statistic, along with his 15.5% pressure rate, are the best marks of his career; his closest season was his breakout campaign in 2022.
Chubb has four sacks and five tackles for loss with a similar snap share to Phillips. His performance is a solid return after tearing his ACL in 2024 with a pace that is slightly behind his 11.0-sack, 11-TFL 2023. However, his 15 pressures and 10.5 pass rush win rate (via PFF) indicate a less consistent ability to get to the passer relative to his younger teammate.
Both players could have value to other teams in the long-term, too. Phillips could be an extension candidate for his new team, making him more valuable. However, he could could also net Miami a 2027 compensatory pick if he leaves in free agency next spring. The Dolphins are currently projected to be over the 2026 cap with only 34 players under contract, per OverTheCap, so they may not have enough space to offer Phillips a competitive extension. Given the difficult in predicting the compensatory pick distribution every year, Miami might want to get what they can right now.
Chubb, meanwhile, is due $39.5MM in 2026 and 2027 with no guarantees. If his production so far this year continues, he may be worth more to another team at that price than he is to the Dolphins with cap hits over $31MM in those years. If Miami is planning to part ways with him this offseason anyway, they may want to take advantage of his hot start and move him now rather than risk his value dropping in the offseason.
Despite the interest in their edge rushers, the Dolphins seem hesitant to engage in trade talks with general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel both uncertain of their job security, according FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano. Reports have generally indicated that both are safe, but the Dolphins’ losing ways could force a change eventually.
Either way, Miami should be considering trade offers for both Phillips and Chubbs. It’s unlikely that either can take their performance to a level that would change the team’s fortunes this season, and the Dolphins probably need more draft capital for cheap talent more than veteran edge rushers on expensive contracts.
Steelers Looking To Add WR To Maximize Success With Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers are interested in adding a wide receiver before the NFL’s trade deadline, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
This is nothing new for Pittsburgh, who are constantly mentioned in receiver trade rumors. They have been as active in the position’s market as any other team in the last year, acquiring Mike Williams before the 2024 deadline, landing D.K. Metcalf in a blockbuster move in March, and sending George Pickens to the Cowboys in May. Despite interest in adding another wideout before the season, the Steelers decided to see what their offense would look like with Aaron Rodgers under center.
The results so far have been encouraging. Pittsburgh is 4-2 with sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Behind them are the 3-4 Bengals, who are hoping that Joe Flacco can keep their offense afloat until a potential late-season return from Joe Burrow. The 2-5 Browns are reportedly targeting a top quarterback prospect in the 2025 draft, indicating they have no intention of competing this year. The Ravens are 1-5 and enter Week 8 desperately needing Lamar Jackson to return from his hamstring injury before their season slips completely away.
As a result, the Steelers have a clear opportunity to run away with the division and even compete for a top AFC playoff seed. That has created a desire to maximize the team’s chances of making a run while they have Rodgers, per The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. Running back Jaylen Warren is averaging 36.8 receiving yards per game and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has deployed all three of his tight ends effectively, but the Steelers could use more consistent production from their receiver room.
Rodgers has established a good connection with Metcalf, but Pittsburgh’s other wideouts have not stepped up. Calvin Austin went quiet after a 70-yard performance in Week 1 and missed the last three games with a shoulder injury. 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson has only five targets on 92 snaps despite hopes of a second-year breakout. Depth options Ben Skowronek and Scott Miller have not offered much, either.
Whether it’s adding a more reliable rotational piece or a legitimate WR2, the Steelers seem intent on adding a wide receiver in the coming weeks, according to FOX Sports’ Eric Williams. Unlike last year, the positions trade market isn’t particularly hot, which might mean that Pittsburgh has less competition to acquire a receiver, but also that there are fewer players for them to target.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/25
Here are the latest practice squad moves from around the NFL:
New York Giants
- Released: DB LaMareon James
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OLB Trevis Gipson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Lance McCutcheon
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/25
Here are the latest minor transactions from around the NFL, including the Chargers practice squad elevations for Thursday Night Football.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: RB Nyheim Hines, RB Jaret Patterson
New York Jets
- Waived: OT Esa Pole
Philadelphia Eagles
- Practice window opened: WR Darius Cooper
Chargers OT Joe Alt Returns In Week 8
After missing three games due to an ankle sprain, Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt is officially active for the team’s Thursday night matchup with the Vikings.
After starting at right tackle as a rookie, Alt took over on the blind side this year after Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. He played left tackle at Notre Dame and translated seamlessly back into his former position in his first four games, allowing only three pressures and one sack, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
When the Chargers drafted Alt with the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft, they were counting on his ability to flip to right tackle right away. They were also preparing for a situation like Slater’s injury. General manager Joe Hortiz came up in the Ravens front office and saw firsthand how Ronnie Stanley‘s 2020 ankle injury altered their fortunes for years to come. So, with his first major move in charge in Los Angeles – and the franchise’s highest draft pick since Joey Bosa – he selected Alt. A little more than a year later, and the decision appears to be vindicated by Alt’s performance on the blind side.
Right tackle Trey Pipkins is also active for Thursday’s game after missing two weeks with an ankle injury. He stepped into the starting right tackle role after Slater’s injury this summer after primarily playing right guard in 2024. However, Bobby Hart still got the start against the Vikings, signaling that he may have the job moving forward.
Ravens Sign OLB Carl Lawson
The Ravens signed veteran edge rusher Carl Lawson on Thursday, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
The seven-year veteran will join Baltimore’s practice squad after a workout earlier this week, according to KPRC2’S Aaron Wilson. A shortage of outside linebacker depth could press Lawson into action right away, though he will have to get up to speed quickly after not signing with any team this offseason.
The Ravens currently have three healthy edge rushers on their active roster after trading Odafe Oweh to the Chargers and losing Tavius Robinson to a broken foot in Week 6. Robinson was placed on injured reserve and is not expected back until late November at the earliest. 2024 third-rounder Adisa Isaac started the year on IR and could return sooner than Robinson, but he barely played as a rookie and is still somewhat of an unknown quantity.
Lawson brings plenty of experience with 89 appearances and 34 starts in his career. The 2017 fourth-round pick logged 20.0 sacks for the Bengals in his first four seasons before signing a three-year deal with the Jets in 2021. A torn Achilles ended his season in training camp, but he came back strong in 2022, starting all 17 games with seven sacks and nine tackles for loss. Injuries hampered Lawson in 2023, but he rebounded again in 2024 with five sacks in a rotational role for the Cowboys.
The Ravens also waived tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden on Thursday, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, signaling that veteran fullback Patrick Ricard will be making his season debut on Sunday. Ricard missed the first six games with a nagging calf injury with Mitchell-Paden filling his role in the offense, but his absence has had a noticeable impact on the Ravens’ run game.
Saints CB Alontae Taylor Drawing Trade Interest
Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor is “on the radar of a few teams,” according to ESPN’s Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler, making him a surprise trade candidate two weeks before the deadline.
“The Saints don’t want to trade Taylor but would consider it if they receive a strong offer,” added Bowen and Fowler.
Recent comments from Saints general manager Mickey Loomis align with that reporting. He revealed on Tuesday that he had received inquiries regarding multiple players.
“We’ll look at each thing individually. We’ll discuss it.” Loomis said (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). “But I’m not in the business of trading away good players unless the deals are just too good to refuse.” He declined to comment on any specific players.
Taylor, 26, has been a starting cornerback for the Saints since he entered the league, logging 31 pass defenses in his first three years. The 2022 second-rounder has spent almost equal time in the slot and on the boundary, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He could be upgrade to a playoff hopeful in need of cornerback help, especially one that could use a nickel with some playmaking ability. The Colts, Raiders, and Patriots are among the teams with reported interest in adding a cornerback who could be in on Taylor.
The Saints’ cap situation will likely make it hard for them to retain Taylor after an explosion in the cornerback market this offseason. They could probably find a way to free up enough money to offer him a competitive deal with another round of seemingly endless restructures, but the team has invested in multiple young defensive backs in the last two drafts.
Furthermore, data from OverTheCap shows that the Saints have not spent heavily on the cornerback position under Loomis. In fact, Marshon Lattimore is the only homegrown corner the Saints have signed to a multi-year extension in Loomis’ tenure. They later traded Lattimore and also let Paulson Adebo walk in free agency this year.
A bigger consideration for the Saints might be Taylor’s value on the trade market relative to his value in free agency. The Saints’ financial issues may prevent them from making any aggressive moves in free agency, in which case their top departing free agents are more likely net them compensatory picks in the 2027 draft. The front office will have to weigh Taylor’s future earning potential and how that would factor into the compensatory formula against the offers they’re getting for a trade right now.
Colts Pursuing ‘Proven Defensive Playmaker’
The Colts are approaching the trade deadline with a “focus on adding a proven defensive playmaker,” per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Indianapolis currently stands alone as the only six-win team in the NFL on the back of a Daniel Jones-led offense that leads the league in points scored and ranks second in total yards. The unit has taken full advantage of some easier matchups with the Dolphins, Titans, Raiders, and Cardinals, but also put up more than 29 points and 400 yards against the Broncos in Week 2 and the Chargers in Week 7.
The Colts defense has performed well under new coordinator Lou Anarumo, giving up the eighth-fewest points and forcing at least one turnover in every game this season. However, they have also allowed the fourth-most passing yards in the league. That’s partially due to consistently leading their opponents, but their secondary was undermanned coming into the season and has struggled with injuries since it began.
Indianapolis’ cornerback room in particular has been decimated. Charvarius Ward, Jaylon Jones, and Mike Hilton all landed on injured reserve, not to mention Xavien Howard‘s abrupt retirement after four starts. Kenny Moore also missed time but came back in Week 7, and Jones returned to practice this week. At a minimum, the team needs depth at corner, and they could certainly use an upgrade.
The Colts have also been linked to edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, but the Bengals are not interested in trading him. Ballard could look elsewhere to supercharge a pass rush that has already been a solid unit this season to take pressure off the beleaguered secondary.
Colts Work Out OLB Shaq Barrett
The Colts hosted veteran edge rusher Shaquil Barrett for a workout on Tuesday, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Barrett signed with the Dolphins during the 2024 offseason but abruptly retired in July. He changed his mind later in the year and eventually convinced Miami to let him depart for his longtime team, the Buccaneers. However, the 10-year veteran only played 17 snaps across Tampa Bay’s Week 18 and wild card matchups.
Barrett’s agent said in April that “he’s definitely going to play this year,” but the two-time Pro Bowler has received no reported interest until now.
The Colts have been in the market for defensive reinforcements, specifically at edge rusher and cornerback. Barrett does not profile as a high-impact addition – his 7.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024 were his lowest two-year total since the 2017 and 2018 seasons – but the 32-year-old has long a strong understanding of how to rush the passer. If general manager Chris Ballard is targeting a more significant upgrade to his secondary, he may look to piece together some more inexpensive additions off the edge. Barrett would fall into that category.
Five other edge rushers visited Indianapolis for workouts on Tuesday: Deslin Alexandre, Seth Coleman, Jasheen Davis, D.J. Johnson, and Benton Whitley. Johnson was a Panthers third-round pick in 2023 and played 17 games in his first two seasons with minimal production. That continued in his four games this year, leading to his release in September. Whitley appeared in six games for the Giants and the Vikings, primarily playing special teams.
Falcons LB Divine Deablo To Miss Time
Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo was off to an exciting start this season, but his potential breakout was interrupted by a broken forearm suffered in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers.
Head coach Raheem Morris said (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) that Deablo would “miss some time,” but added that the fifth-year linebacker is expected to return this season. 2024 fifth-rounder JD Bertrand replaced Deablo after he went down on Sunday night and will likely fill Deablo’s role moving forward.
Originally a Raiders third-round pick in 2021, Deablo did not emerge as an impact starter on his rookie contract. He signed a two-year, $14MM deal with the Falcons this offseason that quickly looked like a great deal through his first five games. The 27-year-old started alongside veteran inside linebacker Kaden Elliss as a crucial part of an impressive defense that ranks second in yards allowed and eighth in points allowed this year. Deablo’s team-high 86.0 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks seventh among all inside linebackers this season, and he has been particularly impressive in coverage, allowing only a 79.6 passer rating when targeted with four pass break-ups.
Deablo will now be sidelined for multiple weeks and could even be placed on injured reserve depending on the severity of his injury. However, suffering a broken forearm – as opposed to a significant lower-body injury – will give him a good chance at coming back strong later this season.